Self-reported pelvic inflammatory disease in the US: a common occurrence.

Based on a nationally representative sample of American women of reproductive age, in 1982, one in seven reported having had pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). One in ten had received ambulatory care, and one in 25 were hospitalized for PID. A two-fold race differential was observed in self-reported history of PID. One in four Blacks compared to one in eight Whites reported having received treatment for this condition sometime in the past. The previous history of PID, especially in the older age groups, reflects the combined effect of secular trends in PID incidence and temporal changes in diagnostic and treatment practices.